Animals Rights Activists groups, the Humane Society of the United States and the Indianapolis Humane Society have been pursuing the elimination of Indiana Dog Breeders for quite sometime. In the last couple of years they have urged a few Indiana legislators to introduce bills making it difficult to breed dogs for profit and have conducted raids on several properties within the State of Indiana. Up until now, the Indianapolis Humane Society along with the Humane Society of the United States has succeeded in closing down several Indiana Dog Breeders.

After the failure to end all Commercial Dog Breeders in 2009 by, among other things, trying to impose ridiculous cage restrictions that even a college professor couldn’t decipher, they are now using a different tactic by attacking the Indiana Pet Stores to eliminate buyers for puppies. How much longer is this behavior going to continue?

If the Humane Societies believe Indiana Dog Breeders don’t care about their dogs and the quality of life for their animals, they are making a huge mistake. Commercial Dog Breeders could have put up privacy fences and left things as they were. Or, they could have sent some of their breeding stock to friends and other family members thus reducing the quantity of dogs at each kennel. They could have forfeited their licenses and sold their puppies to other states that have recently fallen victim to their new regulations and are now screaming for puppies.

But, the Indiana Commercial Dog Breeders didn’t play games or try to pull any sneaky tricks. The breeders willing paid the USDA license fee and/or the Indiana Board of Animal Health fee. They joined the Indiana Council for Animal Welfare (ICAW). The Indiana Dog Breeders, Indiana Puppy Breeders, Commercial Dog Breeders and anything else you want to call those who raise puppies are spending thousands of dollars to upgrade their kennels. Some are building brand new facilities while others are remodeling their existing kennels with materials recommended in the bill signed into law by Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels and in effect as of Jan. 1st, 2010.

Raids have been conducted on kennels and private citizens for several years now. Lonely, elderly people have been a prime target. Scared and helpless, these people had to stand by under the watchful eye of law enforcement officers and while their beloved animals were carted off under false pretences. They never get their animals back. The animals were sent to shelters and put up for adoption. According to media reports, the animals were “rescued” because they were “so sick and so abused” and had to be relocated. Relocated means sent to shelters and adopted by the public, sometimes within as little as three days.

If the animals were so sick and so abused, why are the shelters adopting out these sick and abused dogs? Some animals were transported to shelters in other states. How are these animals getting across state lines without health certificates? If they had health certificates, they weren’t really sick were they? It seems to me there is a little more work to be done by the Senate and House of Representatives of Indiana concerning animal welfare.  

It has come to our attention that the USDA is no longer going to put up with the bad actors. 1st, that is great news. When the Indiana legislature passed HB1468 in 2009 we applauded them for sticking to their guns and accepting the federal standards of the USDA. 2nd the Indiana Council for Animal Welfare applauds the USDA for recognizing that some Indiana Dog Breeders and some Indiana Puppy Breeders do not follow the rules.

From day one ICAW has always stated that if you can not raise dogs correctly and legally we would not support you. Our Animals Rights opponents seem to not believe us. We have come to understand that these folks have just become the minions of HSUS. These Animals Rights folks have become brainwashed by the blather from the biggest factory fundraisers in the country HSUS.

We at ICAW are looking forward to the USDA's changes in the next few weeks. So, yes, you heard it here, we applaud what the USDA is doing to rid the industry of the bad actors. Please take the time to read the above article and you will see why we are truly happy about the changes.

For those of you in Indiana that have not heeded our words, whether you are Indiana Puppy Breeders or Indiana Dog Breeders "Get It Right or Get It Gone". ICAW really and truly wants to Stop Cruelty to Animals whether it is in Indiana Pet Stores or any of the Commercial Dog Breeders who don't want to listen. We have sent the message many times, now it will really be sent by no less than the federal government.

When is a dog not a dog?  by Elsie Evans

 How long before the Indiana Dog Breeders, the Indiana Pet Stores and the good citizens of Indiana start asking questions? Recently I was made aware of two alleged veterinarians offering an alternative to dog kennels under roof. Their program is call "FREE RANGE DOGS". Wayne Pacelle, president of HSUS, has been pushing for "FREE RANGE CHICKENS" in California. Is this just a coincidence? I doubt it.

On this program a fenced area of an acre with a community shelter would support 25 dogs. These veterinarians would teach the breeder how to socialize dogs so they would all get along. The dog breeder targeted for this program was at a loss of what to do. I believe I know what to do. Start asking questions.  

1.First thing you ask is how are they connected with HSUS. Also ask if this program has been approved by the USDA and/or IBOAH.

2.Ask if this is another crazy program to bankrupt breeders and if their intentions are to put them out of business.  Don’t be afraid of offending them. Get a description of their vehicle and get the license plate number. Remember, they most likely will be wearing small cameras and microphones.
   
3.Ask for ID and write down the ID number.

4.Ask what kind of dogs they raise and do they have their kennels set up this way. They will have to acknowledge if  they have put this in practice themselves or are they speculating. They probably don't have their own kennel.

5.Ask for names, addresses or phone numbers so you can Find Dog Breeders already on program that you can contact.

6.Ask how you keep your dogs from being stolen when you are away from home or at night when you are asleep since you don't have to be a 20 year old athlete to climb a fence.

7.Does the community shelter have access to the outside of the kennel in order for the owner to enter and check inside the shelter for removal of a sick or injured dog.

8.Ask what to do about hawks and owls if you have small breeds.

9.Ask how you know which male bred which female.

10.Ask how you determine a whelp date.

11.Ask how you discover a weak/sick dog before its too late. A sick dog could appear it is just napping.

12.Ask how you keep one chow hound from getting all the food.

13.Ask about feces removal and how you keep the kennel and the shelter clean, plus where do you put the dogs in order to clean the kennel.

14.Ask how you keep dogs from digging under the fence or finding a hole they can squeeze through and escape.

15.Ask how you keep a dog from eating the feces of another.

16.Ask how you deal with ALPHA dogs.

17.Ask for a list of what breeds you cannot put together.

18.Ask what you do about dogs not sharing the shelter.

19.Ask just how they go about socializing the dogs.

20.Ask about dimensions of shelter and height of kennel fence plus estimated cost.

21.Ask about materials used for fencing and ground cover.

22.Ask what you need to use for flea & tick control since the dogs will be exposed to the elements.

I have experience using a community kennel. Except for the yard dog, my dogs are 4 to 6 pounds and are turned loose together in a 16 x 16 chain link kennel everyday, weather permitting. I have two dog houses because they will not share just one. The male gets to be with the females for no more than a few minutes because they fight. Sometimes two will gang up on one for no reaon that I can see. They crowd the gate when I enter and sometimes one escapes. They ride the fence, they dig holes, they walk in feces, they share a water dish but will not share food. You can't pick feces out of grass or gravel but you can rake the feces into a pile for removal if there is only dirt. The grass is gone so when it rains they are standing in mud. I can't rake the dry ground when the dogs are there because they either attack the rake or want to play with it. Weeds grow into the fence and can't be sprayed or mowed without moving the entire fence. My toy breed dogs look like lunch to hawks and owls, so my kennel is located under my one and only huge tree. None of my dogs know they can dig under the fence but they do know they can squeeze out through the space at the gate. I had to fasten a piece of 2 x 4 to the post to close the gap.

A few things concern me about this "FREE RANGE" idea. The egg producers couldn't make it work. The large commercial egg producer had 10,000 eggs a day while the "FREE RANGE" producer had 900 eggs a day. After a few days the dogs are going to have open wounds, damaged eyes and ears from fighting, filthy from being in mud and some will be losing weight due to lack of getting their turn at the food. This is a perfect set up for the Animals Rights activists to claim abuse and neglect. Socializing dogs may work well when getting a puppy ready to go to a new home but it doesn't work on adult dogs. I have had vet bills as much as $300 to prove it. So, when is a dog not a dog? NEVER.  
 

Tomorrow is May 4th, 2010 the Primary voting day in Indiana. Please, whatever you do "Go and Vote". It has been a long year these past 12 months. A hard battle to get reasonable canine legislation and good animal cruelty laws in HB1468. It was touch and go all the way to April 29th, 2009. In the 2010 Session we had to battle to defeat HB1258. Both of these bills were absolutely the result of the Animals Rights activism from the factory fund raisers at HSUS.

ICAW was founded after the defeat of HB1468 a group of dedicated animal owners who want to retain their human rights as well. It simply amazes us how pervasive the Animals Rights folks are in Indiana. One would think that with Indiana being such a large agricultural state that most folks would be aware of the Animals Rights folks. Little did we know how much so many people did not know about their activities.

The Commercial Dog Breeders found out, the Indiana Pet Stores found out, the Indiana Dog Breeders found out and probably the most important people who found out were the farmers of Indiana. We are grateful for the support of all of these people over the last 15 months.

So tonight we encourage all of you to go out tomorrow and execute your constitutional right to vote. Please remember to let Linda Lawson (D) District 1 and John Barnes (D) District 89 know that you won't forget their involvement with the above bills. We think they both need to take a rest (at home that is).

I have been sitting here thinking about all of the things that an Indiana Humane Shelter has said  when getting your dog from a pet store or some type of retail establishment. Repeatedly they say: "Ask them where did this dog come from?", "What is the temperment of the sire and dam?", "Does this dogs parents have any genetic problems?" More to the point here is a list of questions.

1. Where do the puppies come from?
2. Is that a licensed USDA dealer?
3. Does the kennel or breeder insist on genetic clearances for breeding stock?
4. What health problems are common in this breed?
5. What type temperament does this breed have?
6. Does the breed have a tendency to bark a lot?
7. How much socialization do they need?
8. How much exercise does this breed need?
9. How much grooming is required?
10. How badly do they shed?
11. What happens to the puppies you don't sell? Are they sent to rescue groups? Euthanized? Returned to the breeder?

Some of these questions are only looking for the commercial breeders to only help disqualify them. Most of these questions are absolutely great questions. When getting your dog from any Indiana Humane Society do these same questions get asked, or more to the point is there ever an answer to those questions. How do those Dog Adoption Shelters respond when asked these same questions? I keep sitting here trying to answer that question and simply can't do it. We all want to Stop Cruelty to Animals but if the shelters and/or rescues are not answering the same questions as the retail establishments.  And in some cases they are requirements, isn't that hypocritical on some level.

Over the coming weeks I will be giving you some other questions to ask when getting your dog. So remember the above questions are not the only questions to ask. Please give me some of the questions that you think should be asked when getting your next dog.

I could go into so many details on why the animals rights activists are wrong in their endeavors but I’m going to try to keep this somewhat simple for this moment.

I see and hear about adopting an animal from a shelter all of the time. While I don’t see anything wrong with this. I don’t see how it’s any better than buying from any Indiana Puppy Breeders, Commercial Dog Breeders, or Indiana Pet Stores.

First of all I think that the adoption fees of most shelters have become outrageous. It’s no longer an adoption process it’s a way to make money. I understand it takes money to run these shelters but where does a not for profit organization get the not for profit if they are obviously profiting off the dogs they adopt or sell out? Does anyone really think that they’re not making money when they adopt dogs out for $250 to $300 a piece while still receiving donations from fund raisers, animal’s rights activists, and advertising? This raises the question where EXACTLY is the money going?

Having said that let’s get into a few other aspects of Indiana Dog Breeders and dog ownership. I have had experiences with dog adoption shelters and so far none are positive. Out of the few nicely run dog adoption shelters I visited I have adopted twice.

The first dog was a wonderful boxer mix that would have made a great addition to any home. Being led to believe that he had been vaccinated and recently neutered I took him home to meet the rest of the family. Within the next two days he seemed a little sluggish which I associated to having just been neutered. I was shocked when my new found friend started having diarrhea and stopped holding his food down. I quickly rushed him to the vet.

After testing was done he was found to have Canine Parvovirus. Something he could not have picked up and became ill with in the two and a half days he was in my care. At the time I wasn’t worried about the dog adoption shelters or cost, I just wanted to save my dog! After extensive treatment and care by my veterinarian, I still lost my new found friend to this highly contagious disease.
 
After going back to the shelter I found that there was no refund policy. In fact there was NO policies in which the shelter would help with the vet bills that had mounted up… and for the price I paid to “adopt” this dog $200 and the price I paid my vet $300, I could of bought a dog from one of many Indiana Puppy Breeders or Indiana Pet Stores that would offer me a health guarantee, registration papers, shot records, replacement policy, and a background of the dog.

Did I learn my lesson? Obviously not… being an animal lover I just hate to see those dogs sitting there waiting to go home. So after a few years I got brave enough to try the dog adoption shelters again. This time I was introduced to a female bull terrier that took to me immediately. This time the shelter gave me a background on where the dog was “found” and a history on how she behaved socially with the other animals and it sounded great! I was even told that they would guarantee there was nothing she had caught from the kennel. I would just have to pay the small fee of $250 and sign a spay/neuter agreement. Which yes, put me in the position to pay for her surgery?
 This didn’t sound too outlandish. So I agreed. Who wouldn’t alter an unregistered dog? Then they got to the part that I had to use their vet. Okay, well I bit the bullet knowing it would probably cost more than my vet would have charged me, but it’s their policy. Well I waited over the weekend for my new bully friend to have her visit to the vet so that I could take her home that Monday.
 
I showed up at the vet’s office to pay my bill and to take little miss bully home with me. Just to find out that she had been pregnant at the time of the surgery which put her at high risk, made them abort the litter, and jacked my price up to a total of $260 dollars!!!
 
Oh well… I had a healthy vet checked, neutered, well behaved dog. So I took her on home. Well to put a long story short. I’m not sure what socializing she had at the shelter but there was not a true evaluation of her. She had food aggression, child aggression, separation anxiety, and an overall dangerous dog if left in the wrong hands.
 
The shelter would have gladly let me return her for another… and they would have waived the shelter adoption fee. However, I would have been paying to have another dog neutered, and taking the same risk of behavior issues! So by this time I guess you could say that I had wised up to what was going on… and no, I didn’t try a third.

 Since then I have had the pleasure of meeting many Indiana dog breeders, commercial dog breeders, and owners of reputable Indiana pet stores. I have bought from these people and been totally satisfied.

 Not only did I receive a well bred dog every time, I received registration papers, health papers, shot records, and the ability to call and ask any question that pertained to that particular dog or breed.

 I’m not saying there aren’t good dogs in dog adoption shelters… I’m sure there are, but if you think about it. Most of them find their way there for a reason. Some reasons are the dogs; some reasons have been created by the previous owner. Either way you don’t truly know what you’re getting or how to be prepared for it.

 So if your going to own a dog I think you should be aware of what you’re getting into and not tricked by false advertisements and promises. Financially the adoption or sale cost of a dog is pretty much the same. It is also very little compared to the price you’ll have invested long term in food, pet care, annual veterinarian visits, and later life issues. If you can’t afford to purchase the pet, you probably have no business owning one to start with because you’re not going to be able to offer the quality care that owning a pet entails.

 So I would advise anyone interested in dog ownership to ignore the ridiculous harping of animal’s rights activists and to educate themselves properly. Don’t fall for the lingo of adoption or re-homing. It’s no different than a purchasing or buying, other than you have to watch out for the FINE PRINT! Having a pet can be a joy or a heart ache. Why choose heart ache over joy when you don’t have to?

Irene Weaver - Indiana

We find it quite interesting that WIBC is airing a commercial paid for by HSUS (Humane Society of the United States) this week about their version of the truth about Indiana Pet Stores. We wonder how an organization that has a 501c3 designation is able to justify paying for this type of lobbying media blitz with that 501c3 designation? It is our oppinion that most people in Indiana do not realize that HSUS has no direct links to any local Indiana Humane Society.

We believe if they truly wanted to Stop Cruelty to Animals in Indiana, HSUS would provide more direct funding to a local Indiana Humane Society or a local Indiana Dog Rescue. It is interesting that the Humane Society of Indianapolis has had a relationship with HSUS in the past. With the economy being the way that it is, we wonder if they would appreciate any of that money that HSUS collects to help their own animals? We ask you to click here and see for yourself what HSUS actually does with YOUR money. What does a national animals rights organization actually know about our small businesses here in Indiana?

We would like to provide you with a very useful resource to help you decide whether or not you want your money to go to this type of organization. We have been paying attention to the folks at Humane Watch for some time now. David Martosko is a very credible resource that HSUS truly does not like. There are so many watchdogs for so many non-profit organizations we believe that it is time HSUS got a watchdog and we think David Martosko is just the right man.

We are so glad that someone with the national following that David Martosko has, is now paying attention to all of the Animals Rights folks. So the next time you are wondering about Indiana Puppy Breeders or Indiana Pet Stores think about Humane Watch as well. We know that we will!!

I recently scrolled through the pet section of Hoosier Topics on the internet and discovered that many people don't buy or sell a puppy anymore. Dogs and puppies are now "re-homed" or "adopted".  Years ago, people went to do their "trading". Trading became "shopping", shopping became "buying" and it appears buying has now become "re-homing".  I wonder if this new language makes people feel like they are performing an act of kindness by "re-homing" or "adopting" a pet instead of "buying" one for their family? Or, could it be a way to out smart the Animals Rights Activists by using their own language? Well, good luck! A Yorkshire Terrier puppy with an adoption fee of $800 is not fooling anybody.

There were beautiful adult cats in Indiana Pet Stores with adoption fees of $150.00 or more. The cats appeared to be healthy and friendly. I may have considered taking these cats home with me if they weren't trying to cover the fact they were selling them. I would have appreciated a straight forward sign on the cages such as "3 yr old neutered cat, up to date on shots, $150.00". I felt like this Terre Haute pet supply store thought their customers were too stupid to understand they need compensation for their products. I left the store without buying anything and doubt if I will ever go back.
 
Some of the Indiana Pet Stores occasionally have dogs and puppies but they are for adoption only and usually accompanied by an employee from an Indiana Humane Society or the Dog Adoption Shelters. If your sympathy lies with a dog from a shelter, you may want to personally check out the shelter. Some shelters are clean and have well lit kennels with animal caretakers who love animals and enjoy taking care of them. But, there are also shelters that have horrible, filthy conditions and disease running rampant with uncaring employees who can't, can't get a job anywhere else. It’s almost comical when the bills are introduced at the State level banning convicted felons from having any contact with dogs when sometimes they are the only employees a shelter can get to work there!  

As promised we wanted to talk more about the regulation of any Indiana Dog Rescue or any Indiana Humane Society. We are not condemning any particular shelter or rescue in the state of Indiana, but we know that there are sub-standard shelters and rescues in Indiana, just like we know there are sub-standard kennels in Indiana.

We certainly hope to never find a shelter such as Memphis Animal Services, a literal concentration camp for animals here in Indiana. We quote

"Almost a month after the raid on the Memphis Animal Shelter, MAS, it’s beginning to look like what they found is just the tip if the iceberg.  As the investigation continues, records, what few and disorganized there are, show that about 18,000 animals went through MAS from January  through mid-November.  Over 12,000 were euthanized but there was also a figure of more than 200 animals that died while in the shelter’s care."

When we see these type of pictures or video's it causes us to stop and wonder how did Memphis Animal Services get the free pass on any type of regulation in the first place.

In fact how do any of the Shelters or Rescues get by with no regulation ever. Our positions here at ICAW have been repeatedly attacked when we stood up for Commercial Dog Breeders or Indiana Pet Stores. Just click on some of the links above and please explain to us how the absolutely criminal negligence can be condoned. Are shelters and rescues above the law?

PLease help us understand why none of the so called National Animals Rights folks ever stand up and say "Yes, we should be regulated at a federal or state level the same as others." Could it possibly be that if they did, they then might have to spend some of the millions of dollars that they take in every year to actually help the animals that it was intended for in the first place!

Please help us understand this by leaving a comment and stay tuned for the next article.

After a long and cold winter weekend we at ICAW have given some thought to HB 1258 and some of its possible outcomes. If it passes the Senate as it did the House and Gov. Daniels signs it. As we wrote Friday if someone were to get hurt or possibly worse, even economically damaged we would pursue the full power of the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act ( AETA ). We believe this would be one of the solutions for the type of Animals Rights people that would potentially harm Indiana Pet Stores or Commercial Dog Breeders.

ICAW absolutely wants to Stop Cruelty to Animals but we really want to Prevent Cruelty to Humans as well. What a shame that it has come to this where so many people are afraid of each other. Well just click the following link AETA and you will see for yourself that this is a very powerful tool.

If you think ICAW has been helpful and informative about the Animals Rights crowd click Here and show your support.

After testifying in the House Committee for HB 1258 last week. I am even more confused. I personally heard more lies and untruths in one hour about Indiana Pet Stores than I have in a solid year. If the portion about Indiana Pet Stores actually had one scintilla of language that actually helped animals maybe I would understand. Unfortunately it doesn't. It is so painfully obvious that the Animals Rights activists have an agenda and they think that nothing can or will stop them.

Repeatedly the committee was told, shown and given documents that proved that the others testifying about Indiana Pet Stores were just plain wrong. HB 1258 is just a ruse to try and smear commercial dog breeders in the State of Indiana. ICAW since its inception has condemned sub-standard kennels. We travel around the state to clean up or eliminate the bad actors out there. It just doesnt matter to these folks they refuse to listen to anyone.

It amuses us when we hear "No reputable breeder would ever sell to a pet store". If the truth be known many reputable breeders do sell to Indiana Pet Stores they just don't want to be antagonized by their so called animals rights friends. How sad it is that in Indiana today ordinary people are afraid to tell their own friends the truth.

We also find it morally reprehensible that many Dog Adoption Shelters and Indiana Dog Rescue (s) believe that they are not obligated to be regulated. Many Indiana residents believe that those folks are perfect and never ever do anything wrong. Check your facts again you might be surprised.

Just for a moment we want you to think about posting or openly giving ALL of your personal information to be seen by all. Would YOU do it? The United States has enacted many laws to protect our identities yet a few in Indiana don't seem to think that matters. So the next time you go to the Doctors office just tell them your not worried about that HIPAA stuff it doesn't matter.

We want you to take the time and follow some links that show what is possible when the Animals Rights activists and extremists have their way. One of our sister states in the midwest (Iowa) has been trying to get to the bottom of a animals rights attack at the University of Iowa animal laboratory. Six years later take a look at who is being questioned.

Remember that John Goodwin, the HSUS Manager of Animal Fighting Issues is a self professed former member of the ALF brought into the HSUS by Wayne Pacelle who absolutely knew his history. Mr. Goodwin now and then. It seems to us that this is just the pot calling the kettle black.   

We want you to read some of the issues that came up from this type of legislation when it happened in Florida. What we are worried about the most, is that someone doing something totally legal and constantly trying to improve will get physically injured or worse. 

God forbid this should ever happen. If it does please remember these same legislators short sightedness when they want to help YOU in the same way!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Well, after some of our members visited the Statehouse about HB 1258 (the Pet Store bill) this past Wednesday. We have a new perspective on HB 1258. When did the State of Indiana start  trying to run away small businesses. We absolutely know that Gov. Daniels doesn't want to do that. We would like to quote Gov. Mitch Daniels from his State of The State speech this past Tuesday.

"Saddest of all, our sister states, at least forty of them, are doing the worst thing possible in times like these.   They are raising taxes, adding to the burden on families already in distress, and making their economic climates even less attractive to new jobs than they were before.   Michigan, Wisconsin, New Jersey and at least eleven more have raised income taxes.  Ohio, Oregon, Minnesota, and thirty more have raised gas taxes.  Many states have raised multiple taxes at the same time.

I hope you will join me in saying tonight to the people for whom we all work, we will make the hard choices, we will stretch the available dollars, we will do whatever is necessary but we will not take the easy way out and we will not make this recession worse by adding one cent to the tax burden of our fellow citizens."

                   Our members walked away thinking about the following points:

• The tax imposed by this bill on the retail sale of dogs and cats is simply that a NEW TAX.
• The Provisions in this bill will simply be used by extremists to harass Indiana Pet Stores.
• The opportunity for citizens that are PRO Indiana Pet Stores to provide meaningful input on this bill was hoped to be non-existent, because the hearing was scheduled with virtually no notice and then rescheduled so animal extremists could attend the following week.
• Posting requirements under this bill are unnecessary and impracticable. Indiana Pet Stores generally do not even have the space to post this extensive information for every dog and cat in the store.
• The Pet Industry in Indiana actively participated in, and supported adoption of, the Commercial Dog Breeders bill (HB 1468) passed this past session. We absolutely do not support sub-standard kennel operators. Yet in this session some of the same legislators are still trying to go after Indiana Dog Breeders again, this time through Indiana Pet Stores.
  

We would also like to point out another obvious fault of HB 1258. To be able to implement this bill, it will force the State of Indiana to spend money they do not have. Every single legislator in the Statehouse knows they can not spend what they do not have and they have all agreed to this crucial point. We want you to read the Fiscal Impact Statement and you will see that the Author and the Co-Author of HB 1258 know that they will have to spend money.

We wonder if they are listening to the Democratic Caucus or not? If they are not. maybe they should pay attention to what happened in Massachusetts this week. It seems that when legislators do not listen to their constituents, the constituents do have a way to send their legislators a message. "We want you to go back home."

If you want to send a message to the legislators involved with this bill. Let them know that YOU are paying attention! Maybe then we all can go on about our business of trying to Stop Cruelty to Animals.

Please write, call and e-mail the following and ask them were they listening to what Gov. Daniels was saying. Express your opposition to HB 1258

 

State of Indiana

House Committee on Courts & Criminal Code information

State Capitol

Indianapolis, IN 46204

317/232-9600

 

REPRESENTATIVE                    DISTRICT(S)                                                 TEL. #             EMAIL

 

Matt Pierce (Ch)(D-61)                  Monroe                                                        317/232-9647    h61@in.gov

 

Nancy Dembowski (V-Ch)(D-17)    LaPorte, Marshall, Starke                             317/232-9676    h17@in.gov

 

Jacque Clements (R-38)                  Clinton, Howard, Boone, Hamilton               317/232-3827    h38@in.gov

 

Ryan Dvorak (D-8)                        St. Joseph                                                      317/234-9290    h8@in.gov

 

Ralph M. Foley (R-47)                   Morgan, Johnson, Hendricks, Owen              317/232-9815    h47@in.gov

 

Eric Allan Koch (R-65)                  Bartholomew, Jackson, Brown, Lawrence     317/232-9793     h65@in.gov

 

Linda C. Lawson (D-1)                   Lake                                                            317/232-9600      h1@in.gov

 

Gregory W. Porter (D-96)             Indianapolis                                                  317/232-9600     h96@in.gov

 

Vernon G. Smith (D-14)                Gary                                                              317/234-9016     h14@in.gov

 

Greg Steuerwald (R-40)                  Hendricks                                                      317/232-9677       h40@in.gov

 

Vern Tincher (D-46)                     Vigo, Clay, Owen, Monroe                            317/232-9999   h46@in.gov

 

Randy Truitt (R-26)                      Warren, Tippecanoe                                     317/234-3827   h26@in.gov

 

 

Pat Bauer (Spkr) (D-6)                  South Bend, St Joseph                                   317/232-9600     h6@in.gov

 

John Barnes (D-89)                       Indianapolis, Marion                                     317/232-9600    h89@in.gov

 

One of our constituents in Indiana are the Indiana Pet Stores. Rep. Linda Lawson and Rep. John Barnes Bill HB 1258 will have a hearing in room 156C at the statehouse today at 3:30 PM. Please read the following message and please help us to help you protect our rights.


There will be a hearing on HB1258 (The Pet Store Bill) tomorrow @ 3:30PM in 156C at the Statehouse. We need people to call and attend the hearing..

If you have a minute, please call (prior to 1 p.m. tomorrow, Wednesday 1/20) the following legislators and politely say:

 

"Hello, I would like to encourage Rep __________________ to not vote in favor of House Bill 1258, Representative Lawson'sand Representative Barnes pet store and animal fighting bill. Thank You."

 

House Courts & Criminal Code Committee:

Chair - Rep Pierce - 317-232-9647

Rep Dvorak - 317-234-9290

Rep Dembowski - 317-232-9676

Rep Porter - 317-232-9634

Rep Smith - 317-234-9016

Rep Tincher - 317-232-9999

Rep Koch - 317-232-9793

Rep Clements - 317-234-3827

Rep Foley - 317-232-9815

Rep Steuerwald - 317-232-9677

Speaker of The House Pat Bauer   Phone: 1-800-382-9842  E-Mail: h6@in.gov

Representative Linda Lawson    Phone: !-800-382-9842  E-Mail  h1@in.gov

Representative John Barnes      Phone: 1-800-382-9842  E-Mail  h89@in.gov

Please call, e-mail and write all of the above to express your displeasure with HB1258. Whether youare a Commercial Dog Breeder or a Indiana Dog Rescue or have even been accused of being in Factory Farming. We are all in this together and the assaults just keep coming. Remember YOU might be next.

Yesterday we explained to you about HB 1258 Pet Store Regulation. Today we would like to ask Rep. John Barnes why he agreed to co-author this bill. We find it interesting that someone who is already on record for taking great pride in getting new jobs for his district 89 but especially keeping the businesses that he already has in his district 89. Why would he sign on to a bill that would cripple businesses in his district 89? As his website for re-election in 2008 so eloquently spells out "As a candidate endorsed by the Greater Indianapolis Chamber of Commerce, Barnes understands the critical state of the job market in our community, asserting that “in order to keep jobs in Indiana, we must nurture the businesses we already have and work to create more opportunities in our state.”

Obviously Rep. Barnes doesn't believe that Indiana Pet Stores are businesses that are  worthy of his interest to keep them from going out of business. In yet another re-election year we find it interesting that he would take that kind of position. We believe that small businesses on the eastside of Indianapolis and lower Marion county would find this most troubling. Would they wonder "Will he pick my business next?", to take a disliking too and sponsor a bill that would cripple my ability to make a living for me and my family. We drive through the Eastside all of the time and see all of the closed businesses and boarded up houses. With the kind of thinking that Rep. Barnes has exhibited in co-sponsoring  HB1258 and  with this kind of business mentality maybe we now understand why!

No Indiana Pet Stores, No Indiana Dog Breeders, No Indiana Puppy Breeders. Obviously, the eastside of Indianapolis doesn't need the revenue from any of the above. Obviously, the jobs created just aren't good enough!

Some may not agree with us, but for those of you who do, we say, send a message to Rep. Barnes at the ballot box maybe then he will understand those jobs ARE good enough. It's amazing to us that when the folks down at the statehouse drink the Kool Aid from the cups of the Animals Rights people, it is amazing how it changes them.

When ICAW was started after April 29th 2009 we all knew that the organization needed to be inclusive not exclusive. We have Indiana Dog Breeders, Dog Adoption Shelters, Commercial Dog Breeders and yes Indiana Pet Stores. No matter where you turn today in the United States, someone is trying to tell you that you are not good enough to take care of animals. We have told you many times in the past, yes there are bad breeders, bad shelters and even bad pet stores. We always ask you to carefully take time when making decisions and not throw out the good with the bad.

In this years session Representative Linda Lawson has decided to once again attack the pet people of Indiana. She and Representative John Barnes co-authored HB 1258. The particular section of this bill that concerns us is Article 22. Pet Store Regulation. It seems to us that when Rep. Lawson did not get exactly what she wanted with HB 1468 she decided to go another route and try to get back at the Commercial Dog Breeders by attacking Indiana Pet Stores this time.

We ask you to read HB 1258 and ask yourself this question. What other types of small businesses in Indiana have to do what Rep. Lawson and Rep. Barnes are asking Indiana Pet Stores to do? This is just a thinly veiled attempt to follow the Animals Rights agenda that is proliferating in the rest of the United States of America. Pet Stores have a right to be in business just like appliance stores, car dealers, grocery stores, gun stores and so on.

The sad truth here is most pet stores are small family run businesses. And yes, sadly they are dying a slow death from over regulation, higher fees and taxes. Most pet store owners are just trying to do what they love and make a living for their families and the families of their employees. It seems that trying to do that is a horrible thing. How dare anyone sell an animal and make money doing it! We hope you will take the time and read HB 1258. It is time for all of the animal lovers of Indiana to let Rep. Lawson and Rep. Barnes know what they truly think about this type of legislation.

You can do this in many ways. Call Them, Fax Them, E-Mail them and most importantly in an election year speak to them at the Voting Booth. We are providing you with Rep. Lawson's and Rep. Barnes contact information please let them know what you think about HB 1258.

By Mail...

Rep. Linda Lawson

Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786

 

By Phone...

Call toll-free (from anywhere within Indiana):
1-800-382-9842
or directly at (317)232-9600

By Internet...

Representative Linda Lawson's email address is h1@in.gov

By Mail...

State Rep. John Barnes                                                             
Indiana House of Representatives
200 W. Washington St.
Indianapolis, IN 46204-2786

 

By Phone...

Call toll-free (from anywhere within Indiana):
1-800-382-9842
or directly at (317)232-9600

 

By Internet...

The email address to use in contacting State Rep. John Barnes is h89@in.gov

1 Comments »

Just a reminder from ICAW for all Indiana Dog Breeders with more than 20 unaltered females. You must register with the Indiana Board of Animal Health by January 1, 2009 to be registered as a Commercial Dog Breeder. You must register as a Broker if you sell more than 500 puppies a year, this includes Indiana Pet Stores as well as individual breeders.

Click Application for both of the above scenario's. Click Guidance Document for the rules and regulations for Commercial Breeders. Click FAQ for the Frequently Asked Questions about the program.

We want everyone to remember this is just one of the many commitments we have made to help regulate the dog business in Indiana. These new regulations have been put into effect   to help Stop Cruelty to Animals in Indiana and regulate Indiana Dog Breeders. ICAW assures everyone if you are not licensed and not following the new regulations. We will not be able to support you in your hobby or business.

Holiday shopping is near and Indiana pet stores are ready with puppies in all breeds and colors. Prices may seem a bit high, but plastic money is accepted at the check-out counter. The puppies are playful, have quick tongues that lavish kisses on happy faces, and are registered. Indiana pet store staff are eager to put a wiggly bundle of fur into a customer's arms. The customer is reluctant to put that squirmy, loving puppy back into their display.

So the puppy goes home with the happy family. All may be well; the puppy may grow into just the dog the customer wanted - easily housetrained, gentle with the baby, playful with the older children, a quiet companion for the adults, a healthy, easily-trained pooch that readily fits family and lifestyle.

Pet stores have been accused of getting their puppies from puppy mills, but this is not true of reputable independent pet stores or chain pet stores stores. However, they do get their dogs from commercial kennels or brokers who are in the business to sell puppies.

You may also choose to get your puppy from an Indiana Dog Rescue or the Indiana Humane Society. Here is where the conundrum comes in. Where should a family get their puppy?  We here at ICAW really don't have an issue where you get your puppy from. We just want to ensure your right to be able to do whatever your choice may be. Always remember there are positives and negatives in every one of the above mentioned places to get your puppy. But it should always be about individual choice and the welfare of the animals. Please help us at the Indiana Council for Animal Wefare to fight to retain those rights for you.

The members of the Indiana Council for Animal Welfare get accused of a lot of things. Some people say we are a front for the Amish, others say we are a front for Indiana pet stores. Actually, we are just a group of people who take our rights about our animals very seriously. When ICAW was formed it was truly a hodgepodge of different people.

We have Hobby Breeders, Purebred Fancy Breeders, Sportsmen and every one else in between. Yes, we do have commercial breeders in our membership and yes, some are Amish. We find it amazing that in a state of many colors and backgrounds that so many people want to just label someone what they "think" they are without any substantive thought. Many times we wonder if it's because the Amish are pacifists and don't fight back, and almost always turn the other cheek.

We have many good friends in the Amish community who constantly ask, "What can we do better?" All of the plain people that we are associated with abhor the term Amish Puppy Mills. In fact, in a lot of instances with these breeders it is the woman of the family that is actually doing the work. You are probably wondering why the women take care of the puppies. When the lady of the house can do this for a living it allows her to stay at home with the kids. She doesn't have to leave the settlement to go clean houses, or cook at one of the Amish restaurants that we all love to eat at.

Yes, stay at home moms. We always say that is something to strive for here in conservative Indiana. Have you ever been to a kennel in an Amish settlement? If not, why not? There is an old saying, "People who live in glass houses should not throw stones." So the next time you want to say something disparaging about the Amish, or use the term Amish Puppy Mills, ask yourself why?

ICAW wants everyone involved with dogs in Indiana to be able to sit at the same table. The Amish, and other groups or individuals, deserve no less.

As mentioned in our last post about dog adoption shelters, we here at ICAW have been telling you about our travels around the State of Indiana visiting Indiana dog breeders, Indiana pet stores and dog adoption shelters trying to educate and inform them of what is happening in our state and our country concerning animal welfare issues.

We promised you in our last post that we would talk about the No Kill Advocacy Center. First we should begin by briefing you about the Nevada Humane Society. Bonney Brown, the Executive Director of the Nevada Humane Society said, "In early 2007, Nevada Humane Society committed to making Washoe County, Nevada into one of the safest communities for homeless dogs and cats in the nation. The results have been dramatic. Many people have asked how we have made such remarkable improvements in the county-wide save rate for dogs and cats over the past year. So we have put together the game plan we used in hopes that it will help others produce similar results in their communities."

"In 2007, the Nevada Humane Society launched an ambitious no-kill initiative to make Washoe County, Nevada one of the safest communities in the United States for homeless animals. And we are succeeding. Despite a per capita intake rate higher than many communities nationwide, we were the safest community of our size for dogs in the United States and one of the safest for cats. By year’s end, 92% of all dogs and 78% of all cats found loving new homes, were reclaimed by their responsible caretakers or, in the case of feral cats, were adopted as barn cats or returned to their habitats."

By the Numbers*

Dogs

Total Impounds: 8,036
Total Saved: 7,366
Killed: 670
Percentage Saved: 92%
Percentage Killed: 8%
Change in Kill Rate (2006 vs. 2007): -51%
Change in Adoption Rate: +53%

Cats

Total Impounds: 7,819
Total Saved: 6,067
Killed: 1,752
Percentage Saved: 78%
Percentage Killed: 22%
Change in Kill Rate (2006 vs. 2007): -52%
Change in Adoption Rate: +84%

How They Did It...

Their 10 Guidelines for Success

 1.  Establish priorities and align actions with them to save animals immediately.

 2.  Get “the right people on the bus.”

 3.  Invest time and assets in lifesaving.

 4.  Inspire and involve the community.

 5.  Increase adoptions.

 6.  Spay and neuter animals.

 7.  Actively work to keep animals out of shelters.

 8.  Provide a safety net for feral cats.

 9.  Partner with other groups.

10. Stay Flexible

Once again, take a moment and digest the statistics above. Washoe County Nevada's Population in 2008 was 410,443. We believe that these statistics are possible in our Indiana communities as well, and Indiana Dog Rescue or Dog Adoption Shelters in Indiana feel the same way. However, we are not sure if the Animals Rights groups believe this is possible in Indiana and other states.

Find the Opportunities in Challenges.

With animals, people and human nature, unexpected things will always come up. If animal control busts a hoarder, if there is a natural disaster or if an injured animal needs expensive care, ask the public to come forward to help. They will adopt the animals, make donations to provide care, volunteer to help, or provide foster homes – all you have to do is ask.

We here at ICAW have been telling you about our travels around the State of Indiana visiting Indiana dog breeders, Indiana pet stores and dog adoption shelters trying to educate and inform them of what is happening in our state and our country concerning animal welfare issues. Last night we visited another one of our key constituents, an Indiana Humane Society. We are continuously amazed at how hard people work to do the right thing. Every shelter that ICAW has visited is struggling to get funds, volunteers and the basic essentials to just stay in existence.

You might be surprised by this next statement, ICAW absolutely believes in No Kill Shelters (No-Kill defined as no healthy adoptable pet euthanized). Last night we presented the Calgary, Alberta Canada model and The No Kill Advocacy Centers point of view to one of our local animal adoption shelters. We discussed and presented a way for this particular shelter to be self sustaining. The dialog was absolutely amazing.

The Calgary Shelter receives no money from any government agency in Canada. It is hard to believe, but true. Their statistics are stunning and we would like to share a few of them with you. First of all, Calgary's population in 2008 was 1,042,892 people. The 2008 census of dogs and cats estimated there were 110,242 dogs and 107,514 cats. Calgary humanely euthanized 274 dogs in 2008. Of the 274 euthanized dogs, 204 of the dogs were euthanized for behavioral issues, 56 dogs for health issues and 14 dogs for other reasons. Calgary humanely euthanized 145 cats in 2008, 69 for behavioral issues, 33 for health issues, 28 ferals and 15 cats under the category of other. If any of the dogs or cats had been licensed under the By-Laws of Calgary, they could have been returned to their owners.

Take a moment and digest that last paragraph. A city of over one million people with no government money coming to them, that humanely euthanized less than 350 dogs and cats. In Calgary it is a partnership of all the parties. Everyone sits at the table and no one is left out. They came to understand that the heavy handed enforcement approach reduces buy-in from the community and therefore reduces available funding. The community came to understand "What's in it for us and the animals?" more than "It's the law". Why don't we take some time and try to do the same thing here in Indiana?

The longer we have been involved in all of these issues it seems to us that dog adoption shelters in America have become the "Kill Shelters," not "Humane Shelters". It even comes down to the semantics of the whole issue. Why is it "Animal Control" and not "Animal Care and Control?" Euthanasia in animal shelters is bad for the people working there and worse for the animals!

Anyway, stay tuned and tomorrow we will talk about The No Kill Advocacy Center and the fundamental principles laid out by Nathan J Winograd.